Counting and control mechanism



I July 13, 1943. LUHN 2,324,221

COUNTING AND CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 21, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR. Hans P. L uhn ATTORNEYS July 13, 1943.

COUNTING AND CONI'RCL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 21, 1939 12 She ets-Sheet 253 54 5 v 55 v ///4'z 41 I g l1 43 l I I INVENTOR. Hans I? Luhn BYATTORNEES July 13, 1943. H. P. LUHN 2,324,222

COUNTING AND CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 21, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR. Han s P. L a h n A TTORNEYS July 13, 1943. H. P. LUHN COUNTINGAND CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 21, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 m m ma w wL D0. f W a 5 J ly 13', 1943. H. P. LUHN 2,324,221

COUNTING AND CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 21, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet 5Hans P Luhn ATTORNEYS 13, H P LUHN COUNTING AND CONTROL MECHANISM FiledSept. 21, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TOR Q g :2 mp. n: I W m 4 m "mIISJT lll r M t 5 I U E u JIM! I AW mm. ci NN mm" D mm; VN% kn, on H..ufl..;.Ew flmw 5 1m HIM WW I I W m NHL nwfi l w u 2 L. 31. m2 2 J E vHans l Luhn cam gi v A TTORNEYS July 13, 1943. H. P. LUHN 2,324,221

COUNTING AND CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 21, 1959 12 Sheets-Sheet 7INVENTOR. Han s i? L ah n ATTORNEYS h. 5 LLEHN July 13, 1943.

COUNTING AND CONTRC L MECHANISM 1', Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. P L uh 11 Hams BY ATTORNEYS July 13, 1943. H. P. LUHN COUNTING AND, CONTROLMECHANISM Filed Sept. 21, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. ,Hans P L uhnATTORNEYS Juiy 13, 1943, H. P. LUHN COUNTING AND, CONTROL MECHANISM l2Sheets-Sheefi Filed Sept. 21, 1939 H. P. LUHN COUNTING AND CONTROLMECHANISM Filed Sept.

21, 1959 12 Sheets-Sheet ll INVENTOR. Hana P Lula ga 84011 ATTORNEYS y 91943.. H. P. LUHN 1 2,324,221

COUNTING AND CONTROL MECHANISM 7 g 60 Q g G 00 0O 0 oc o o O O Q oo o O0 0c) 0 o G 6 C) O 0 O 0cm) O I, O Q 0 O 0 Q 00 o o o 0 c O O c O 000 Gc O o I G 0 O 6 ()0 c C) o ()0 (D Q o 000 0 O 00 000 o 1 O 00 000 o O 00000 0 C) 00 000 O O 00 000 o C) o (DOC) 0 (j c C) o 00 Q C) 0 08 C) O 008 Q o O 0 00 C) INVENTOR. Hans P .Lu/zn ATTORNEYS chine tools, etc. Inmy co-pending application Serial No.

276,659, for a Computing mechanism, I have dis-.

Patented July 13,1943

.. COUNTING AND CONTROL MECHANISM Hans P. Luhn, North Tarrytown, N.

Y., asslgnor,

by mesne assignments, to International Bnslness Machines Corporation, acorporation of New York Application September 21, 1939, Serial No.295,892

' 2413laims. (Cl. 74-1) The present invention relates to a mechanism forcontrolling machines of various types and especially to a mechanismwhich will operate various machine controls after the performance ofapredetermined number of intervening operations. The mechanism isparticularly applicable to the control of a full-fashioning knittingmachine for knitting stockings and will be described in that connection,although it is to be understoodthat the same or a similar mechanism hasa large number of applications, as for example control of traiilcsignals, chemical closed a counter mechanism which is generally the sameas the counter mechanism included in the disclosure following. However,in that application no mechanism was shown for selectin amongst a numberof control elements and no mechanism was shown whereby the counter mightprocesses, automatic ma operations ofa knitting machine to be performedwas to utilize a chain comprising links for eachcourse to be knitted,each link having a button powith buttons in secause actuationof theseelements in predetermined sequence and vals.

At was stated above, the invention disclosed herein is particularlyadapted to the control of a after predetermined internumber ofoperations have to be performed in a predetermined order and someoperations have to persist for a considerable interval or during aconsiderable number of cycles of the knitting,

machine.

For example a number of' courses of plain knitting may first be knit,after which the mode of operation of the knitting machine may be changedto knit a loose course, again to knit a picot stitch, and then again toknit a loose course, then in tum-.to knit knitting. v A At other timesthe mode of operation may be altered to perform a narrowing operation,immediately after which the knitting-of plain courses is resumed.

In either one of the. cases mentioned above the altered mode ofoperation to knit the loose courses picot stitch, or to narrow thefabric persists during but a single cycle of the machine.-

' sition representing a course. r

In some instances this button-chain arrange- "1 knitting machine. Insuch a machine a large In the past, the usual method of causing thesesition thereon. This chain lected ones of the positions was passed undera group of actuating levers in such manner that the levers were operatedat the'proper time to cause the correct action of the machine.

As will be seen, this required a chain of great length for whenever anformed followed by a certain number of courses of plain knitting abutton had to be placed on a link of the chain in position to operatethe lever for the action and following this button a number of blankbutton positions equal to the number of courses or plain knittingdesired had to be provided. v If an action .were to be performed and topersist during knitting of a number oi courses, then it became necessaryto provide a button in' the column controlling that action ineach buttonDoment was replaced by apunched card, or a succession of punched cards.This arrangement,

while having certain advantages in preparation,

nevertheless still called for a control card of extreme length withconsequent likelihood of error and difliculties in use.

In knitting machines there are a great number of varied controls whichmust be actuatedat proper times. Amongst these may. be .mentioned thecontrol for narrowins, the control for determining the tightness of thestitches, and the control for slowing the operation of the machineduring certain operations, such as naraddltional courses of plainrowing. For example, in knitting a stocking, it

.is sometimes necessary to-cause a mechanism of the knitting'machine tobe operative during a single course and at other times necessary tocause that same, mechanism to be operative for r a number ofsuccessivecourses. Furthermore, it

However, there are instances in which the control which modifies theknitting machine operation must remain actuated during a plurality ofcycles of the machine. One example of such control is the automaticreturn of the narrowing fingers to their initial position'prior to theperformance of narrowing operations on the subsequent stocking. 1

is at times necessary to count the number of plain knit courses betweenother operations and at other times unnecessary to do so due to the factthat one control lsactuated immediately after another, each lasting forone course only.- The mechanism of my invention is capable of performingin such manner as to properly control a knitting machihe to proceed inmanners outlined above.

It is an object of my invention to produce a counter selector for aknitting machine which is action was-to be perany one of the readilyattached 'to the knitting machine and is driven by that machine.

It is another object of my invention to produce such a counter in whichthe controlling element for the counter is a punched tape which isextremely short and therefore easily produced and handled.

It is another object of the invention to still further reduce the lengthof the control tape by making it possible for perforations in a singleline of the tape to control both the actuation of the control portionsof the controlled machine and the setting of the counter itself.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a sensing mechanism inthe counter selector which exerts but light pressure on ling card ortape but which nevertheless causes positive actuation of the knittingmachine control levers or elements.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a counterselector in which the selector portion may be operable without thecounter to cause the varied actions of the knitting machines to takeplace.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide acounter-selector in which an action may be caused to take place followedby a count of the courses of knitting prior to the occurrence of anotheraction.

It is another object of my invention to provide a counter selector inwhich an action may be caused to take place and to be continued during apredetermined number of courses of knitting or cycles of the machine.

Other objects and features of my invention will appear when thefollowing description is considered in connection with the appendeddrawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the counter selectorof my invention;

Figure 2 is a left hand elevation of the'counter selector;

Figure 3 is a right anism; v

. Figure 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the counterselector showing particularly the operation of the counter mechanismduring a sensing operation;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the various parts inthe positions which ,they occupy when the carriage has been elevated andthe counter has been set;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on the plane ofthe lines 6-6 of Figure 1 showing the manner of actuating the knittingmachine control levers. This view shows the parts in the positions whichthey occupy when the carriage is in its raised position;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing the position of theparts when the carriage is in its lower position and a sensing action isbeing performed;

Figure 7A is a fragmentary showing of some of the parts of Figure '7showing the relationship therebetween when the carriage has been raisedfollowing an effective sensing operation;

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the mechanism with certain partsomitted and with certain parts broken away showing the manner in whichthe motion of the carriage is controlled by the operation of thecounter;

Figure 9 is a detailed view partially in crosssection showin theconstruction of the counter portion of the mechanism;

hand elevation of the mech- Figure 10 is a vertical, cross-sectionalview the control-.

taken on the lines l0--l0 of Figures 1, 8 and 9 showing the portions ofthe mechanism which hold the carriage in its elevated position as wellas the portions of the mechanism which control the operation of thecounter in a counting operaion;

Figure 11 isa view similar to Figure 10 showing the positions of thecounter actuating mechanism at a later stage than is shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 10 showing the counter actuatingmechanism in the position' which it occupies when the carriage has beenpermitted. to assume its lower position;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on the plane ofthe line I3-l3 of Figure 1 showing particularly the mechanism forcontrolling the holding of the carriage in its upper position as isnecessary at times to assure that a certain control lever which has beenpreselected may be operated during a number of courses or an interval oftime determined by the counter mechanism;

Figure 14 is generally similar to Figure 13 but shows the position ofthe parts after the release of the carriage, its movement to its lowerposition. and the sensing of a hold control hole;

Figure 15 is likewise generally similar to Figure 13 but shows thepositions of the parts during an interval in which an actuation of holdlever has been performed;

Figure 16 is likewise generally similar to Figure 13 but shows theposition of the parts upon 9. raising of the carriage following asensing operation in which the hold control hole was not present;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the mechanism takenon the line ii--l'l of Figure 1 showing the mechanism for advancing thecontrolling tape and likewise a portion of the mechanism. for assuringthat the sensing fingers or members shall not descend upon the paper orcard at certain periods in the operation of the machine;

Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 1'? but showing the position ofthe parts when the carriage is in its lowermost position;

Figure 19 is a view generally similar to Figures 1'7 and 18 showing theposition of the parts of the tape or card feeding mechanism and thesensing finger control mechanism following 9. raising of the carriagenot accompanied by the appropriate action to hold the carriage in itsraised position;

Figure 20 is a view likewise similar to Figures 17 and 18 showing thepositions of the parts when the carriage is in its lowermost positionand has descended thereto 'without permitting the sensing fingers todescend upon the card or tape;

Figure 21 is a detailed view showing the mode of operating a portion ofthe mechanism shown in Figures 17 through 20; and

Figure 22 is an enlarged view of a portion of a typical control tape.

Frame and main shaft supported from these rails or bars 23 through themedium of side frame members 24 and. 25, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.Each of the two frame members 24 and 25 includes a bearing and cap whichserve to rotatably mount the transversely extending main shaft 26. Thismain shaft may be oscillated by means of the handle 27, which may bemanually operated but in normal use is connected by means of the rod 28to the main drive of the controlled machine, as for example a knittingmachine. Freely rotatable upon the shaft 26 is a sub-frame or carriagecomprising two arms 29, see Figures 1 and 10, joined together by the bar30 as well as by various ones of the shafts hereinafter described. Thesearms 29 have downward extensions 3| which are joined together by atransversely extending bar 32. Likewise mounted on the shaft 26 andkeyed thereto are two downwardly extending arms 33, one on either sideof the machine (Figures 2 and 3). At the lower ends of these arms arebosses into which screws are threaded to bear against the bar 32. Itwill be seen that when the shaft 26 is oscillated it will cause thecarriage to be raised due to cooperation between the ends of the screwsand the bar 32.

Tape drum sections, one of which is punched in accordance I with thebinary system and the other of which has punchings for directlyactuating certain levers. A typical example of such a tape is shown inFigure 22. This card or tape is fastened together at itsends to form anendless belt and is mounted on the machine in the position shown inFigures 1, 2 and 3. At its outermost end the tape is supported on aroller 4| (Figure 2') which rotates upon a shaft 42 supported on an arm43 adjustably mounted in a block 44. Block 44 is in turn supported on aspring 45 which is rigidly joined to a rod 46 adjustably supported in ablock 41, which block is mounted on a plate 48 having turned-up endswhich are fixed to a plate 50 in turn supported on the lower ends ofside members 24 and 25. At its other end the tape passes over a drum 5|,which drum'is mounted at its right hand end in an arm 52 which isintegral with the right hand one of the sub-frame arms 29. At its lefthand end the drum is supported in a bearing integral with a dependingarm 53, which arm is bifurcated at its upper end and pivotally connectedto a block 54 fastened to the left hand one of the arms 29. The drum 5|rotates on a shaft 55, eccentric extensions of which are the portionssupported in the bearings mentioned. The left hand one of the eccentricextensions has'integral therewith an arm 56 carrying at its end a handle51. Also integral with this arm and with the left hand extension is aninwardly extending semi-circular projection which cooperates with anoutwardly .extending semi-circular projection on the arm 56 so thatrotation of the entire shaft including the eccentric portions by meansof the handle 51 will lower the drum slightly and disconnect the handleprojection from the arm projection. Thus the arm 56 may be rotated aboutits pivot point, thereby making it possible to insert an endless tapeonto the drum structure. At each end the drum carries a plurality ofteeth which cooperate with feed holes in the tape so that as the drumdescribed, upon oscillation of the sub-frame or carriage.

Mechanism for operating control levers Mounted on the shaft 26 are thecontrol levers 34 (see also Figures 6 and 7), which control levers arebiased to their inoperative position by means of the springs 35stretched between the lower ends of the levers and rods 36 (Figure 2)supported in brackets 31 extending rearwardly from the frame members 24and 25. Each of these levers 34 has an extension thereon which isadapted to a rod 38 extending across the machlne and acting as a stop.At the upper or lower end, as desirable, each lever 34 may be pivotallyconnected to a link 40 which is adapted to be connected to a control ofthe controlled machine.

In the particular embodiment of the invention herein described, thereare 23 control levers 34, each of which is operated inaccordance withthe presence or absence of a hole in a particular column of the controltape. Since these levers are exactly similar, it is necessary toconsider the operation of one only.

Extending across t; e device above the shaft 55 and supported inextensions 60 (Figures 2 and 3) of the arms 29 is a shaft 6|. On thisshaft are mounted the two-part sensing levers consisting of the sensingfingers 62 and the interposing members 63 (Figure 6), these two partsbeing yieldingly connected by means of springs 64 extending between armson the parts 62 and 63.

Parts 62 and 63 are rotatably mounted on the a sensing operation. Eachinterposing arm 63 carries at its outermost end an interposing block 66.

Referring now to Figure 7; it will be seen that when a hole appears inthe particular column with which the sensing finger 62 considered is theshaft 6|, lowering the block 66 into position between bar 30 and aforwardly projecting extension 68 of lever 34. As the carriage rises,

' it, pressure is exerted 68. .The mode and purpose of operation ofshaft 6| will be described hereinafter.

left hand one ofthe counter i counting period in which punchings in thea and occupy a single Counting mechanism- The counting mechanism is ofthe binary type described in my copending application above mentionedand the counting discs thereof (Figures 4, 5, and 9) are mounted on ashaft 10 extending transversely of the machine and supported in the sideframe members 24' and 25.

The transfer pinions are rotatably mounted on in arms 12, which are inturn the shaft 2' and connected a rod ll supported rotatably mounted onto the carriage for the disc lies benea a feeler rod or feeler roller IIand in the other of which an un-notched portion of the circumfer'ence'ofthe wheel lies beparticular counter the wheels'lies in the units orderof figur the next succeedin wheel to the right in the twos order offigures, the next in the fours order, lies in the 82s order. Also inthis counter the transfer pinions ll are adapted to effect a transfer tothe higher order wheel upon each second step of rotation of the nextlower order wheel.

Mounted on shaft 2' are the supporting arms or brackets 12 in whichthere is supported a rod II on which'the transfer pinions ll aremounted. when the sub-frame is oscillated to its upper positiornthesetransfer pinions mesh with the wheels 13 so that upon each two stepsneath this roller. In this of movement of the It should be noted that anmember I2 is provided to assure that they are respective countingwheels. This aligning member is pivoted on brackets If and isspring-urged upwardly by a spring m stretched between the left handextension of the member and a pin on the bracket itself. The left handextension of member I" has a cam surface which cooperates with a pinionI" on an arm III, which arm is stationary and does not move with theTherefore, as the carriage is oscillated to its upper position thisaligning member will be re-i moved from the transfer pinions and willpermit these pinions to perform their transfer function as the lowestorder wheel is rotated.

Counter setting mechanism will be obvious that in setting the counter itis only necessary to move certain ones of the wheels through a singlestep of movement, leaving the remainder in their original positions. Thecounter wheels are set in accordance with control tape and it is to benoted that these'punchings are horizontally aligned line across .the sixcolumns of the tape which are reserved for the punching of counts tobeperformed. This is in distinction in those systems in which decimalcounters are used and in which nine horizontal rows of hole positionsmust be reserved and passed over in order to properly actuate a countingmechanism.

The means for setting the counter comprises sensing fingers 16, seeFigures 4 and 5, substantially identical to the sensing fingers 62menoscillation therewith. In the present embodiment of the invention thecgunting unit comprises tioned above. These angers cooperate withsetting pawls 11, to which they are yieldingly connected in the samemanner as interposers I are connected to sensing fingers If. It will beseen, therefore, that as the carriage. is lowered, carrying the varioussensing fingers with it, any finger 18 which passes through a hole inthe control tape causes counter-clockwise rotation of the correspondingsetting pawl 11 about shaft 6|.

' As the carriage subsequently rises, the oscillated pawls engage teethof their associated counter wheels and cause rotation thereof through asingle step of movement. In order to assure that the pawl noses maintainengagement with teeth of their associated wheels, rollers are providedon the pawls, which rollers ride against cam surfaces on the under sidesof blocks ll, which blocks are fixed to spacing members supported on theshaft It, as well as on a rod ll extending transversely of the entiremechanism and supported in the side frames 24 and II. 1

and so onto the last which As is obvious,

wheel'to the right two, of the succeeding wheel 4, and so on to thesixth wheel, the single step (if movement of which represents 32. It is,of

counter wheel of lower order a single step of movement of the wheel ofthe next high- 'est order is caused.

aligning the transfer pinions will not move during the of an arm I21.

tolimitthe number of the wheels or capacity of the counters.

1 Sensing finger lifting mechanism Referring now to Figures 1 and; a,there is keyed to shaft 0| near the right hand end there- Adiustablyconnected to arm course, unnecessary l2l and thus directly connected toshaft ii is a out of mesh with their block I28. The adjustableconnection comprises a .lug extending to the right of arm I21 and lyingbetween two adjustment screws, one in" each of-two bifurcations of theblock I".

- Fixed to an upwardly extending arm I" of block I2! is a U-shapedmember l3l which carries a roller II! which rests on the surface of acam in. Now, as the carriage is elevated, roller is: moves upwardly outof contact with the surface of a cam I24 but in contact with cam inuntil the roller strikes the projection or hook I, at

which time it causes cam I24 to rotate about the shaft Ill and assumethe position shown in Figure 17 which results in oscillating shaft ll.Since, as was mentioned hereinabove, shaft 6i carries a key whichcooperates with notches in the various sensing fingers, it will beobvious that when this shaft is rotated in a clockwise direction asdescribed it raises all sensing fingers 62 and I8, permitting feeding ofthe tape.

Carriage locking mechanism In order to actuate the counter step by stepto count to a number previously set up by the counter setting mechanism,the carriage or subframe must be locked in its upper position. Themechanism for performing this looking operation is shown in Figures 4, 5and 8 and comprises a feeler roller 15 which upon setting of the counteris forced outwardly by the cam action of the notches of the actuatedcounter discs. This feeler roller 15 is rotatably mounted in a block'84, which block is in turn fastened to a when the carriage reaches itshighest position, the pawl rollers pass beyond the a counter-clockwisedirection transversely extending shaft 83. At either end this shaft 83has mounted on it a sleeve In the absence of conditions which preventsuch rotation,-as will be hereinafter described, the sleeve will thenrotate in the arms 90 which are formed with hooks at their endsand areadapted to engage with extensions or lugs 9|, Figure 2, of the cross-bar30 oi'the sub-frame. When the sleeve is rotated as described the hookswill be lowered and operation with the extensions ll willflhold the fromFigure 12 that as shaft 26 is oscillated and each complete oscillationof the handle.

The driving member 91 is fixedly connected to a sleeve 98 on shaft it atoothed ratchet wheel which cooperates-with and carry with it due to coe98 which is fixed to shaft v for movement therewith. It will be obviousoccurs at the time when the 10, which sleeve carries upon Icounterclockwise rotation I urge of spring the raising otthe detent I09,Figure 2). fixed to the-lowest order or units one or the counting wheelsor The driving member 81' together with the sleeve 98 and the ratchetwheel is spring-pressed to the urges the assembly counter-clockwiseagainst .-a stop. Thusas the driving member is rotated in a clockwisedirection,

the coun r discs'and permit counter-clockwise the sub-frame and permitit to oscillated to its up ermost locking i'rame moves to its Tapefeeding mechanism Mounted on the right hand one or the two sleeves 85and fixed for. rotation therewith is a bellcrank lever I or themechanism.

wise position, as seen in Figure 18, lies in the. path of a pin I20. Thepinv I20 projects out-- wardly from a lever llbwhlch lever is rotatablymounted on the exterior or the bearing of shaft '55. On the opposite endoi, lever Hi there is pivoted a pawl I22 adapted to drive the ratchetthat rotation of the lever III with respect to the shaft *must occurand,

therefore, the pawl I22 will drive the ratchet wheel 88 and with it thedrum 5! (Figure 19).

Mechanism for permitting reductionin control tape length It will be seenfrom the mechanisms described next cycle by locking of the carrame inits elevated position. mode of operation requires the line of the tapeto inriage or/ sub- However, this punching 01' a hole in one a matingtoothed wheel I. (properly detented by I discslt.

will descend into of the shaft as, under- 89 (Figure 3)}"thus Ccallsing.barii has been" position'so that the lower position at the I5,thesubstantiaily horizontal Arm HQ carries at its lower end .anadjustabie pawl or ioot 8 which when the sleeve 85 is rotated to itsmost counter-clock carriage were locked in dicate which of the controllevers is to be operated followed'by a punching or series of punchingsin a second lineof the tape to determine the count to be set up. Inorder to reduce the length of the control tape, mechanism has beenprovided which makes it possible to punch the holes governing movementsof the control levers and the hole or series of holes representing thecounter setup in the same line of the tape. Using this mechanism. thefirst cycle of the machine causes actuation of the control lever andsetting of the counter to the predetermined number. At the end of thiscycle the carriage is returned to its lower position and since the tapefeeding mechanism has been operated the sensing fingers would, in theabsenceof mechanism to prevent it, sense the next line of holes whichwould cause another actuation of the control lever and another settingof the counter wheels, which would also be obvious that if the itselevated position during the completion of that cycle of operation inwhich the sensing fingers read the tape, the opereted control leverwould remain operated during the entire count, which is not proper underthe circumstances mentioned above.

Mechanism for preventing double sensing be improper. It .will

17 through 21. It cooperates with the sensing finger lifting mechanismalready described.

Mounted on shaft 83 for movement therewith is a leaf spring II2(seeFIgure 21), the outer elevation, the lugs 9| pass under the hookswhich immediately move into position beyond the lugs and hold thecarriage in its upper position, the parts then being in the positionshown in Figure 17.

Immediately upon the completion of the count, shaft 83 is rotated due tothe alignment of the notches in the counter discs and pawl Ill is raisedto the position shown in Figure 19 and at the same time sleeve 85 isrotated and the hooks 90 are lifted, permitting lowering of the carriageand permitting restoration of cam I24 to the position shown in Figure 18during that lowering. It is to be noted that a hook is provided onmember I33, which member is fastened to the side frame 25. This hookprevents lowering of the roller beyond a definite point and bypreventing such lowering determines the lowermost posiend of whichengages in a notch in an arm H3,

which arm is fixed on a shaft rotatably mounted in the right handbracket 25 and which shaft carries on its other end a pawl Ill whichcooperates with the sensing finger lifting mechanism and specificallywith the pawl-like portion I2! of cam I24 of this mechanism.

. Now referring to the operation of first actuating a control lever andsetting up a count and thereafter completing the count, asconsideredabove, it will be seen that when the desired count tion of the entirecarriage or sub-frame.

Locking delay mechanism Figures 13 through 16 illustrate means whichprevent the locking of the carriage in its upper position until afterthe operation of lever 84 and setting of the counter wheels and theelevation of the carriage the second time. The means mentioned comprisean arm I which is fixed to the right hand one of the two sleeves 85 aswell as a cam IIl'I rotatably mounted on shaft 18 and normally held inthe position in which it is shown in Figure l6.- Cooperating with arm I"and cam I01 is a pair of rollers I08, one of which lies on either sideof an arm IIB which is freely rotatable about the shaft BI and is urgedby spring III in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figure 16.

when the counter wheels are set in the manner described above, shaft 83rotates in a clockwise direction'and sleeves ll tend to follow.

is set upon the counter wheels, shaft '3 is rotated in acounter-clockwise direction, as seen in Figure l, causing rotation ofpawl Ill in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 21, and in acounter-clockwise direction, as seen in Figures 17 through 20.

As described above, when the carriage is first elevated pawl IIl fallsinto the notch of pawl III, as shown in Figure 20, and preventsclockwise. rotation of the cam I24 when the carriage is next lowered.Due to this retention of the cam In its rotated position, the roller I32follows the surface of the cam which is now concentric with shaft 28.Due to this, the key in shaft BI bears against the upper ends of thenotches in the sensing fingers I8 and 02 and retains these sensingfingers in their elevated position. As a consequence, the lowering ofthe carriage is without effect at this time.

When the carriage is next raised, since the cam is still retained, theroller I32 follows the surface of cam I24 again and when the rollerstrikes hook I28 moves the cam slightly and frees hooks 90. Therefore,at the end of this second It However, on the first elevation of thecarriage and the setting of the counter wheels, this rotation of sleeves88 is impossible since one of the pair of rollers I08 rests upon thesurface of cam I01 and arm I" rests upon the other of the pair ofrollers. Due to this arrangement the two sleeves are prevented fromrotating, and consequently the two hooks 90, one fastened to eachsleeve, are prevented from locking the carriage in its upper positionand, therefore, as the cycle is completed the carriage moves to itslower position and Just as it reaches this position the parts describedabove take the position shown in Figure 14, wherein the rollers IIIIhave passed beyond the nose of arm IIII, thus permitting the arm I andthe hooks 90 to assume their lower positions. Upon the next elevation ofthe carriage, the right hand one of the pair of rollers III! rides uponthem so that the carriage is locked in the elevated position. Mechanismdescribed hereinabove then operates the counter step by step until thecounter wheels or discs are againin alignment, at which time thecarriage is released, since the tension of spring I I I is very light ascompared with that of the spring which tends to rotate shaft 83 in acounter-clockwise direction, which action occurs as soon as each of therollers ll lies above a notch in its associated counter disc.

It is to be noted that the sensing fingers are prevented from sensingthe punchings in the control tape during the lowering of the carriage.and designated by the same considered above. It is also to be notedthat feeding of the control tape is prevented during the second of thesuccessive elevations.

Prevention of control tape feeding sleeve 85 is prevented by one of therollers I08,

it will be seen'that during this first elevation foot I I8 remains inthe position of Figure 18 and the feed drum is advanced to its nextposition. How- -ever, as the carriage is lowered, the sleeve 85 rotatesin a counter-clockwise direction, carrying Thus whenever a hole liesunder this sensing finger 62 the interposer 66 associated with the holdlever I34 is placed between the bar and a forward extension of thelever. As the carriage or sub-frame is elevated the hold" lever I34 willbe rotated counter-clockwise through a smallangle to the position shownin Figure 15. This rotation of the control lever will cause rotation ofthe lever I36 about its central pivot point and will thereby cause thecam I01 to be rotated in a clockwise direction until it likewise takesthe position shown in Figure 15. When the cam lies in this position,roller I08 may descend into a notch MI in the surface of the cam wherebyit is now possible for the arm I06 to rotate in a clockwise direction topermit the hooks 90 to arm I I6 to the position in which it is shown inFigure 17 so that upon the next elevation of the carriage the foot H8 isout of the path of pin I20, and therefore, drum upon the secondelevation.

Mechanism for holding carriage in its elevated position immediatelyafter sensing tiate these two actions are to be in the same horizontalline of the controlling tape the mechanism there described is necessaryin order to prevent the control lever from being held in its operatedposition during the counting operation.

However, there are times, as in automatically returning the narrowingfingers of a knitting machine, when it is desirable to have a controllever operated during a plurality of cycles of the machine and thereforedesirableto render the mechanism described under the preceding headingineflective. I

The mechanism for holding the carriage'in its 1 elevated positionimmediately following the sensing operation, orin other words, forrendering the mechanism described under the preceding headingineffective, is shown in Figures 13. through 16. The mechanism isextremely simple and comprises a hold lever I34 which is generallysimilar to the control levers 34 with the exception that this hold leveris not connected by any link to operating parts of the knitting or othercontrolled machine. Mounted adjacentto the hold" lever I34 is an arm I35on which there is pivoted a lever I36 having a notch cut in either end.Into the upper one of these twonotches extends a roller I31 which ispivoted to the arm I01. Into the lower of the two notches extends aroller I38 which is mounted on a projection I40 of the lever I34. Theadapted to be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as'seen inFigures 13 to 16, by means of an interposer exactly similar to theinterposers 68 described in connection with Figures 6-7A referencenumeral because of this similarity. This interposer lies toward theobserver and for this reason is shown in dotted lines in Figures 13through 16. A special hold position is provided in the control tape forcooperation with the sensing finger 62 which controls the operation ofthis interposer.

there is no advance of the hold lever I34 is fall behind the lugs 9| andto hold the carriage in its elevated position.

Any control lever which has been operated will continue to be operatedduring the completion of the count set up on the counter wheels, sinceany of the interposer blocks 66 which may have been positioned betweenthe bar 30 and forward extensions of the control levers 34 will remainin that position as long as the carriage remains in its upper position.

It will be seen that due to 03 the pawl I will be rotated as before.

the rotation of shaft Further, this pawl will fall into the notch in thecooperating pawl member I25, as shown in Figure 17. This operation,however, will have no effect since the carriage remains in this elevatedposition until the count is completed, at which time shaft 03, togetherwith sleeve 85, is restored to its original position, rotating pawl II4so that the nose is removed from the notch of pawl member I25 and at thesame time elevating the hooks 00 so that the carriage is permitted toassume its lower position and the parts are restored to the positionshown in Figure 18.

Operation As will be seen by reference to Figure 1, the particularembodiment o1 the'counter selector of this invention illustrated iscapable of controlling 23 diflerent actions oi. the machine controlledthereby, which actions may in turn involve the actuation of othercounter mechanisms. The selection of these different actions isdetermined by the location of punchings in a controllng card or tape,and the number of courses to be knitted following the actuation of anycontrol lever or the number of courses to be knitted while any controllever is actuated is determined by punchings in the same control tapelocated, however, in positions to govern the setting 01' a counter.

The counter selector isadapted, as is indicated by the description ofthe construction given hereinabove, to performany types of operation,namely:

(11) Operation of a control lever only (b) Counting only (0) Operationof a control lever followed by counting (d) Operation of 'a controllever and retention of ing.

Examples of these low: v

Figure 22 shows a sample control tape or card which may be considered tobe the control card shown in the machine in Figures 2 and 3. At the leftand right of this control card are relatively large holes which are feedholes adapted to engage with pins fixed in the four types of operationfolone of four distinct the lever in operated position duringcountperiphery of the feed drum at the extremities thereof. n the lineof this controlled card designated A there are punchings in the secondand third columns from theright, whichpunchings may be taken as thosegoverning the action of control levers which operate the narrowing andslow control of the knitting or other controlled machine. On the assentline B of this card are shown punchings in the first and second columnsto the left as well as a punching in the right'hand or "hold" column.Since the first six columns to the left of the card are reserved forcounter setting and since the counter is, as explained above, of thebinary type. these two holes would represent a count of l to be set upin the counter wheels representing a total of four courses. tobe knitwithout actuation of any control lever, while the "hold hole indicatesthat the carriage is topbe held in elevated position after its firstupward movement.

0n the line C of the card there areshown punchings necessary to causeactions to be performed followed by counting. These punchings compriseholes in the second and third columns from the right of-the card,indicating that the narrowing and slowoperations of the knitting machineare to be performed, together with punchings in the third and fourthcolumns {from g 1 the left of the card. indicating that following thenarrowing and slow operations thirteen courses of plain knitting are tobe performed. it In row D of the card there are shown punchings in theright hand column and in the fourth column from the right as well aspunchings in the fourth and fifth columns from the left of the card. Thepunching in the fourth column from the right indicates that theassociated control lever is to be operated. The punching in the firsthole at the right indicates that th s control lever is to be heldoperated during the count, and the punchings in the fourth and fifthcolumns from the left of the card indicate that this count is to be oneof twenty-four units.

(a) Operation of a control lever only I If the card of Figure 22 beplaced upon the (b) Counting only- Since no relowering of the carriageis necessary in performing pure counting is punched as described above.

The fingers II in descending will find perforations in the first andsecond columns from the left of the card and the "hold" sensing finger Iwill find a perforation in the right hand column.

These perforations will serve to permit lowering of the two left handsetting pawls 11 which will act in the manner described hereinbefore tomove each of the .two counter wheels or discs to theleft of the series asingle step in a counter-clockwise direction. This movement of thewheels will-move the notchesthereof out of alignment with the remainingwheels of the series. thus forcing the feeler rollers ll tothe-rear,thus causing block 8| towhich theseflroliers are fastenedhtorotateinachckwise directiomasseeninl'lgures 4 and 5,'-the blockcarrying with .it shaft 88. The right hand perforation will causeoperation of 'hold" lever I 34 so that during the elevation of thecarriage which caused this setting of the counter wheels. one of therollers II! rides up the surface of-cam Ill which is rotated to itsFigure 15 position while the other roller lies beneath the arm I", thusmaking ltiosslble for the sleeves I! to rotate with the shaft '8 uponits operation as set forth immediatel above.

The hooks 90 will fall in behind the extensions II and holdth'e carriagein its elevated position.

Further'during the elevation feeding action of the ratchetwheel Itandthe associated drum ll willoccur. Itwillbeseenthatsincethisfeedingaction occurs, the ensuing line of perforations,

that is; line 0, lies in position to be sensed.

Upon thenext operation of the handle, whether manually or operated bythe controlled machine.

the carriage will remain in its elevatedposition. However, roller 98will move in the slot]; as the arms "are oscillated clockwise and in so-doing the extension of this roller "wilt-fall into the notch in counterdrive member I1 and will cause it to oscillate counter-clockwise,assuming the position in which the parts are shown in Figure 11.

feed drum Ii in such manner that line A of pe'rforations lies beneaththe sensing fingers i2 and It, then upon the first followingdescent ofthe carriage, fingers O2 in the second [and third 110- a sitions fromthe right will pass through the holes and cause interposition of blocks'8 between bar ll and forward projections I of the correv spondinglevers 84. Upon the elevation of the carriage or sub-frame, these twolevers will be rotated in a counterclockwise directiomas seen in Figures6 and 7, causing the links 48 connected thereto to be pulled to theright (Figure 3) actuating the proper portions of the knittin v machinemechanism to cause the narrowing action to be performed and to beperformed at a slow speed. Since no count was set up there will terwheel of next highest order will also be adbe no actuation of thecounting wheels or discs and consequently no movement of either shaft83. or sleeves 05 or of the various parts connected thereto, and as aconsequence when the actuating leveror handle perm ts lowering of thearms 29, the carriage will follow and restore to its lower position.However, during the elevation of the carriage, the foot or pawl H8 willhave been positioned in the path of the pin I20 and, therefore, the feeddrum will have been rotated through a step of movement positioning theline B of perforations in the path of the sensin fingers.

1 Upon the next movement of the handle and arms 2! in acounter-clockwise direction." the roller will ascend in the slot 02 andcarry drive member I! in a counter-clockwisedirection, this oscillationof the drive member s1 acting through the ratchet mechanism previouslydescribed to advance the counter disc of lowest order. through one stepof movement. Upon the next complete cyclic operation of the handle thecounter wheels step of movement and at the same time the counvancedthrough one step of movement;

Upon the next ensuing complete cyclic operation of the handle, the drivemember 91 win again advance the wheel of lowest order through one stepof movement. Due to thisv operation the notches in the twocounterwh'eels' 'of lowest order tions shown in l igurigs l2 and i8, thevarious of lowest order will be advanved through another

